This work investigated the interaction of indole with SARS-CoV-2. Indole is widely used as a medical material owing to its astounding biological activities. Indole and its derivatives belong to a significant category of heterocyclic compounds that have been used as a crucial component for several syntheses of medicine. A straightforward one-pot three-component synthesis of indole, coupled with Mannich base derivatives 1a–1j, was synthesized without a catalyst. The products were confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectra, and elemental analysis. The indole derivatives were tested for cytotoxic activity, using three cancer cell lines and normal cell lines of Human embryonic kidney cell (HEK293), liver cell (LO2), and lung cell (MRC5) by MTT assay using doxorubicin as the standard drug. The result of cytotoxicity indole compound 1c (HepG2, LC50−0.9 μm, MCF−7, LC50−0.55 μm, HeLa, LC50−0.50 μm) was found to have high activity compared with other compounds used for the same purpose. The synthesized derivatives have revealed their safety by exhibiting significantly less cytotoxicity against the normal cell line (HEK-293), (LO2), and (MRC5) with IC50 > 100 μg/ml. Besides, we report an in silico study with spike glycoprotein (SARS-CoV-2-S). The selective molecules of compound 1c exhibited the highest docking score −2.808 (kcal/mol) compared to other compounds. This research work was successful in synthesizing a few compounds with potential as anticancer agents. Furthermore, we have tried to emphasize the anticipated role of indole scaffolds in designing and discovering the much-awaited anti-SARS CoV-2 therapy by exploring the research articles depicting indole moieties as targeting SARS CoV-2 coronavirus.

Chitosan is broadly used as a biological material since of its excellent biological activities. This work describes investigations of chitosan interaction with SARS-CoV-2, which is occupied by human respiratory epithelial cells through communication with the human angiotension-converting enzyme II (ACE2). The β-chitosan derivatives are synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C NMR), mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, TGA, DSC, and elemental analysis. The β-chitosan derivatives were screened for cytotoxic activity against the HepG2 and MCF-7 (breast) cancer cell lines. Compound 1 h (GI50 0.02 µM) is moderately active against the HepG2 cancer cell line, and Compound 1c is highly active (GI50 0.01 µM) against the MCF-7 cancer cell line. In addition, chitosan derivatives (1a–1j) docking against the SARS coronavirus are found by in-silico docking analysis. The findings show that compound 1c exhibits notable inhibition ability compared with other compounds, with a binding energy value of −7.9kcal/mol. Based on the molecular docking results, the chitosan analog is proposed to be an alternative antiviral agent for SARS-CoV2.

In this work, we synthesize the sulfonated Schiff bases of the chitosan derivatives 2a-2j without the use of a catalyst in two moderately straightforward steps with good yield within a short reaction time. The morphology and chemical structure of chitosan derivatives were investigated using FT-IR, NMR (1H—13C), XRD, and SEM. Furthermore, our chitosan derivatives were tested for their anticancer activity against the MCF-7 cancer cell line, and doxorubicin was used as a standard. In addition, the normal cell lines of the breast cancer cell MCF-10A, and of the lung cell MRC-5 were tested. Compound 2 h, with a GI50 value of 0.02 µM for MCF-7, is highly active compared with the standard doxorubicin and other compounds. The synthesized compounds 2a-2j exhibit low cytotoxicity, with IC50 > 100 μg/ml, against normal cell lines MCF-10A, MRC-5. We also provide the results of an in-silico study involving the Methoxsalen protein (1Z11). Compound 2h exhibits a higher binding affinity for 1Z11 protein (−5.9 kcal/mol) and a lower binding affinity for Doxorubicin (−5.3 kcal/mol) than certain other compounds. As a result of the aforementioned findings, the use of compound 2h has an anticancer drug will be researched in the future.

In this study, the synthesis of one-pot 10-phenyl-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-spiro [acridine-9,2′-indoline]-1,3,8-trione derivatives was achieved via a four-component cyclocondensation reaction, which was carried out in solvent-free conditions, and using p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) as a catalyst. The product was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectra, and elemental analysis. Furthermore, the anticancer activity was screened for all compounds. Among these compounds, compound 1c was more effective (GI50 0.01 µm) against MCF-7 cancer cell lines than standard and other compounds. Therefore, the objective of this study was achieved with a few promising molecules having been demonstrated to be potential anticancer agents.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). As isatin-containing compounds exhibit several remarkable biological activities, isatin derivatives were prepared to combat the global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 that is gripping the world. Herein, the synthesis of novel isatin derivatives has been reported. The cytotoxic activities of the compounds were determined using cancer cell (MCF-7) and normal cell (MCF-10A and MRC-5) lines. In silico molecular docking experiments were conducted using AutoDock Vina. We have successfully predicted the binding energies and the number of hydrogen bonds present. We have also identified the residues involved in hydrogen bond formation. The target compounds were synthesized using Schiff base following cyclization and Knoevenagel condensation reactions. We have focused on the recyclable synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the extracts obtained from Dipteryx odorata. The extracts were used to reduce silver ions for the production of AgNPs. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited excellent catalytic activities during the synthesis of isatin derivatives in ethanol. The formation of the target isatin derivatives has been confirmed using the Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, 13C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis techniques. Compound 3e was found to be the most active compound when tested against the MCF-7 cancer cell line ( I C 50 = 20.5   μ M ). The activity was comparable to the activities of standard doxorubicin and other compounds. In silico molecular docking experiments were conducted to study the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 (PDB ID: 6LU7). Compound 3c exhibited high binding ability (−9.4 kcal/mol). The inhibition ability was studied using hydroxychloroquine as a standard. Results from docking studies revealed that the inhibition ability of compound 3c was higher than the inhibition abilities exhibited by other compounds. The synthesized compound 3e is a potential antiviral drug that can be used for treating the COVID-19 disease.